Kurashiki Tenryo Summer Festival and Tamashima Festival, Mabi Funao Grand Dance, and many other festivals are held in Kurashiki during the summer. The festivals, where local people come together to create a lively atmosphere, are a summer tradition that attracts many visitors from inside and outside the city.
Bon Odori has the image of a traditional event, but in August 2024, a new festival called Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori started. As the name suggests, the keyword for this Bon Odori is "it will happen eventually."
I thought it was a rare opportunity to witness the moment a new festival is born, so I decided to attend.
I will introduce the atmosphere of the day and the thoughts of the organizers.
What is Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori
"Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori" is a festival that was held on August 16, 2024 (Friday).
In modern times, where some regions can no longer continue Bon Odori, the Kurashiki Shopping Street Promotion Association and KOMA Co., Ltd., the organizers, planned this festival with the idea of "wanting to create a new festival as a tool for community interaction."
The theme of Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori is "a fun Bon Odori that anyone can participate in, regardless of age, nationality, handicap, or gender." It is created with the concept of "it will happen eventually," aiming to become a signature Bon Odori that energizes the community.
The venue for the first event was "Kurashiki Center Street Bios Rest Area."
Food stalls, which are essential for festivals, were set up, offering not only food and drinks but also shops selling miscellaneous goods and hands-on workshops.
- POP.POP.POP (miscellaneous goods)
- Atelier Nukagokko (mask-making workshop)
- USHIO CHOCOLATL (chocolate)
- Hyon (shaved ice, drinks)
- Natural Food Kotan (organic food)
- Cafe&Bar KAG (hot dogs, etc.)
"Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo" that anyone can dance
The "Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo" used in the Bon Odori was planned by the Nukatsukurutoko welfare facility in Hayashima Town, and the song was produced by modern Ondo composer Yamanaka Camera.
The concept born from the pun of the two words "Setouchi" and "Sonouchi," which have similar phonetics, is deeply connected to the concept of "fermentation" from "Nukatsukurutoko," leading to the completion of the "Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo" themed around "it will happen eventually."
According to Yamanaka Camera, after researching the history and dances (such as Shiraishi Odori) passed down in Setouchi, the song was created with the motif of "Ippen Shonin," the creator of "Odori Nembutsu."
It seems that the influence came from the way of dancing that transcends social classes, allowing everyone to go to the Pure Land without discrimination.
"Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo" features easy-to-dance choreography, making it a dance that anyone can easily participate in.
The atmosphere of the festival on the day
On the evening of August 16 (Friday), I headed to the venue, Bios Rest Area. On the way, I could hear live music from the shopping street, and my heart raced with the feeling that the festival was gradually approaching.
The sound of singing echoes in Bios Rest Area
Many people were already enjoying the stalls and music at the venue, creating a lively atmosphere. The usually quiet Bios Rest Area was filled with energy, and I could feel the power of the festival.
At the center of the square, a yagura (a traditional stage) was built, and music was played throughout. When I arrived, a mini live performance by Nakamura Satoko was taking place.
Her powerful singing voice drew the attention of passersby, who stopped to listen.
Among the participants dancing around the yagura, there were people wearing hats made of cardboard. Curious, I asked the staff, and they said these were made in a workshop by Minna no Danbo-man, which conducts cardboard reuse activities.
In addition to hats, there were also types of cardboard worn like armor, and children dressed up in cardboard were happily playing.
There were also food stalls at the venue.
At the organic food store "Natural Food Kotan" from Okayama City, they offered healthy natural foods and craft beer. I was drawn to a sign that said, "It's super cold!" but decided to check out other stalls first.
The food stalls featured enticing offerings such as homemade sausage hot dogs, shaved ice with homemade syrup, and carefully crafted chocolates from a chocolate maker.
A line of parents and children formed at the "Atelier Nukagokko" fox mask-making workshop. "Atelier Nukagokko" is an after-school day service in Hayashima Town that allows elementary to high school students to engage in creative activities.
Peeking into the stalls, I saw children adding their own patterns and colors to the fox masks.
The unique masks created by the children seemed to further brighten the venue.
The main Bon Odori finally starts
As the time for the Bon Odori approached, there were greetings from Yuichi Akiba from KOMA Co., Ltd., the organizer of Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori, and Yamanaka Camera, who composed the music for the Setouchi Bon Odori.
As they called for participation, people in the square gradually gathered near the yagura.
The "Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo" began with the singing voice of singer Nakamu Rasatoko, and the Bon Odori starts.
The relaxed rhythm of the music is said to express the waves of the Seto Inland Sea, and the choreography also has a calm and gentle impression, just like the music.
The song lasts about 7 minutes and is sung repeatedly several times. With each repetition, the number of participants dancing increases, and people of all ages gathered around the yagura.
As the sun completely set, the number of people visiting the venue peaked.
Some enjoyed their meals while listening to the Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo, while others enjoyed socializing with acquaintances, each spending a free and peaceful time.
I also ordered a fresh craft beer to quench my dry throat and toasted towards the yagura. The beer poured into a plastic cup has a unique charm that can only be found at festivals.
As I walked with a beer in hand, I found a place where I could submit lyrics for the Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo. It seems that part of the lyrics for the Setouchi Sonouchi Ondo can be written, and the selected lyrics will actually be sung in a lottery.
Since it was a good opportunity, I decided to try my hand at writing lyrics. Referring to example sentences, I wrote about the wishes I want to fulfill someday.
I remembered that my recent attempts at home gardening had been a series of failures, and I wrote the lyrics, "Things don't go well, home gardening, someday I want to eat tomatoes," and submitted them.
After a while, the names of those who submitted lyrics were called, and my name was also called. The submitted lyrics were sung in order.
I felt a bit shy when my lyrics were sung, but the experience of having a professional sing the lyrics I created and the experience of people dancing to my lyrics was something I had never experienced before. It was an interesting and valuable experience that I couldn't normally enjoy.
The Bon Odori continued until around 9 PM, with many people enjoying the dance, and a circle of people formed around the yagura.
I asked the organizer about their thoughts for next year's event
I spoke with Mr. Akiba Yuichi, the representative director of Betty Smith, about the outlook for the Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori.
Mr. Akiba expressed that through the Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori, "I hope Kurashiki becomes a truly cool city."
The "cool city" that Mr. Akiba envisions is not a city lined with tall buildings and beautiful commercial facilities, but a city with a spirit of mutual assistance that can reach out to those in need.
"There are various people in the world, regardless of handicap, gender, age, or nationality, but I hope for an environment where anyone can be reached out to. What is important for that is to have mutual interest. This time, we created it together with people with disabilities, and I hope that the Sonouchi Bon Odori can be a trigger for focusing on such people."
Mr. Akiba, who speaks about wanting to spread that feeling through the Bon Odori dance. The goal for the 2nd Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori in 2025 is to hold it along the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Area, where it will catch the attention of more people.
Conclusion
The Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori was impressive as the entire venue was enveloped in a warm atmosphere.
Whether it was the music or choreography that evoked the feeling of the Seto Inland Sea, I felt a sense of calm throughout the event.
I believe that the opportunity for local people to participate not only in the dance but also in the lyrics is a unique experience of the Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori. It created a sense of closeness, with the feeling of "I became a part of creating the Bon Odori!" which turned into a cherished memory.
I hope that the wishes read by the author this time will come true someday.
The Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori, which will become a new tradition in Kurashiki.
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of interactions will arise at the 2nd event held in the Bikan Historical Area.
Data on Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori
| Name | Kurashiki Sonouchi Bon Odori |
|---|---|
| Date | August 16, 2024 (Friday) From 4 PM to 9 PM |
| Location | 2-6-1 Achi, Kurashiki City |
